Hello everyone!Chanced upon this forum while looking for academic courses in Buddhism. I live in Mumbai, India and have learnt Vipassana meditation under Shri. S N Goenka. I am an on-and-off meditator and currently looking to further my understanding by enrolling myself for a study course. Have chanced upon a few in US universities, but currently finding self overwhelmed with all the information coming my way on their webpages! I am open minded with regards to the country and domain of Buddhism I could study. Any help you could do in this regard is most welcome! Will be more than happy to help anyone here with regards to anything that could be be my current strength.Much Metta,Aparna

I have very fond memories of Mumbai when I went to Goenkaji's main centre, Dhammagiri at Igatpuri, in 1989. I hope to return one day but not sure when.I look forward to your contributions.kind regards,

Ben

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.

Hi Ben!So nice to meet a fellow Vipassi here as the first acquaintance. I hope your India trip fructifies soon. Goenkaji's old age does not permit him to teach many courses anymore, but his recordings and the battery of teachers he trained seem to be doing a good job!Warmly,Ananyaa

ananyaa wrote:Hi Ben!So nice to meet a fellow Vipassi here as the first acquaintance. I hope your India trip fructifies soon. Goenkaji's old age does not permit him to teach many courses anymore, but his recordings and the battery of teachers he trained seem to be doing a good job!Warmly,Ananyaa

They do indeed. If I am not mistaken I believe Goenkaji has all but retired. His doctor has told him he can no longer travel and the only courses that he teaches these days are one day courses at the Global Pagoda. I was fortunate enough to sit with him on the Teacher's Self Course back in 1989 and then sat and served with him at Dhammagiri for nearly three months. It was an incredible experience.As for my next trip to India - I think maybe not now until my children have finished school.with metta,

Ben

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.

ananyaa wrote:Hi Ben!So nice to meet a fellow Vipassi here as the first acquaintance. I hope your India trip fructifies soon. Goenkaji's old age does not permit him to teach many courses anymore, but his recordings and the battery of teachers he trained seem to be doing a good job!Warmly,Ananyaa

Hello Ananyaa, welcome to Dhamma Wheel.But Vipassi? It seems that Goenka's followers in their earnestness not to be counted as a Buddhist will soon form a new sect.

ananyaa wrote:Hi Ben!So nice to meet a fellow Vipassi here as the first acquaintance. I hope your India trip fructifies soon. Goenkaji's old age does not permit him to teach many courses anymore, but his recordings and the battery of teachers he trained seem to be doing a good job!Warmly,Ananyaa

Hello Ananyaa, welcome to Dhamma Wheel.But Vipassi? It seems that Goenka's followers in their earnestness not to be counted as a Buddhist will soon form a new sect.

Oh no no. Sorry in case it seemed like that. All Vipassana meditators call themselves Vipassi. Goenkaji himself may not like in case Vipassana by him becomes that. I must at the same time say that the Mumbai chapter seems to be growing and now there are all sorts of people there; and at one point in time when they gave me 'prasaad' (like in any hindu temple), at the end of a group sit, I was very taken aback

Ben,You are right, Goenkaji mostly comes to give Metta at the end of a one-day course. And also ofcourse, there is the self course by teacher. At times he also meets meditators around Deepawali (and Indian festival) time. I am but a baby on the path for now, so a long way for me still before I sat a teacher's self course!

ananyaa wrote:so a long way for me still before I sat a teacher's self course!

You will get there Ananyaa. But remember that progress on the path isn't so much a result of how many retreats or what type of retreats you do during your life, but walking the path every day throughout your life.

Ben

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.

ananyaa wrote:so a long way for me still before I sat a teacher's self course!

You will get there Ananyaa. But remember that progress on the path isn't so much a result of how many retreats or what type of retreats you do during your life, but walking the path every day throughout your life.

Ben

Very True! By the way, I have been immensely enjoying the discourses of Ajahn Brahm in recent months! He is so extraordinarily witty and it is sheer joy to listen to him. You are fortunate to be living in Australia, perhaps you could go listen to him live too!

The heart of the path is SO simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice. Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. Of course, there are dozens of meditation techniques to develop samadhi and many kinds of vipassana. But it all comes back to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. - Ajahn Chah